the pentagon budget would be cut 11% a year, even as the war in afghanistan continues. d.o.d. civilian workers will likely take the hit. plans call for more than 700,000 to take one day off a week without pay, a 20% pay cut. jason mckenzie owns ride on bikes in columbus, georgia, home to fort benning. military employees make up half his business so smaller paychecks could mean fewer sales. >> it's going to take money out of everybody's pocket, everything will crash. everybody will stop spending, everybody. >> reporter: one of the ripple effects of gridlock in washington felt far beyond the beltway. john yang, nbc news, chicago. >> all of this somehow brings us to our political director and chief white house correspondent, chuck todd. so chuck, what's going to happen here? and if it does happen and if it's fixed, do you wonder why so many people are so deeply angry, cynical and checked out of our politics? >> i can understand if viewers tonight think this is chicken little all over again. the president holding another event surrounded by people who could see dire effects of a b